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Monday, July 18, 2011

Lesser of two evils?

I am going to New York on Thursday. Yay! I am very excited for time with my parents, some quality time with two of my daughters, a break from my job, and the opportunity to see some family and friends that I very rarely get to see. I leave on Thursday and am home on Sunday so it will be very fast, but it will be great.

Now the big question I have is... which is the lesser of two evils?

1. Running 18 miles on the streets of New York (Long Island) by myself, in heat and humidity I am REALLY not used to

or

2. Running 18 miles on a gym close to my parents house?

On one hand, I like running in new places and I much prefer to be outside. But right now, even the LOW temps of the day in NY are a good 20 degrees higher than what I am used to running in. And what do people do when they have to go to the bathroom on a long run in NY? Do you have to carry money and buy something so a store will let you use their restroom?? Will they let me pack my runner's mace in my checked luggage?

A treadmill in an air conditioned gym will take care of the heat issue, and the mace issue and the bathroom issue. But then there is that whole "bored to tears" thing (and a day pass will cost $10). I can't decide if running at a gym is a smart idea of wussing out.

I did find a decent 18 mile route from my parents house and back on roads that shouldn't be too dangerous but also should take me past an ample amount of convenience stores for emergency pit stops, and I found a gym just half a mile away that opens early, has tons of treadmills and has no time limit for using the treadmills. So what do you think? Take it slow, suck it up, be adventurous and run outside while I am in NY (probably one 8 mile run and one 18 mile run) or be safe, keep cool and run in a gym??

If it wasn't six weeks out from the Pocatello Marathon I would probably just switch things up or skip the runs, but this weekend is just six weeks before race day and this is an important part of the training for me.

Since this is my first comment I have to say wow how do you do it all? Wow! As per your question, get up at5 am and get outside. There are amazing girls in NYC who would be happy to run with you and hook u up. Do u know of them

I'm so opposite of EMZ--outside, no question about it. 18 on a treadmill is torture. Start out nice and early to beat the heat. Map out a route where you can go past a gas station for drinks/bathroom. Done deal!!

I've done both: 18 miles among over-the-head cornfields in Iowa; 22 miles on the mill during an ice storm.If the heat in NYC is anything like what we have here now, outside will be torture not to mention dangerous.I'd say get your head around the idea of both so you're mentally ready. Think of it as an adventure.BTW you can pack your runner's mace and fly. : )

Well I did an 11 mile run on the treadmill not too long ago and I wanted to KILL myself, so I vote for outdoors. Get up early and get out there. I think it will be fun! Take it slow and make sure to carry water!

18 miles sounds like torture on the treadmill, but running in high humidity and heat you're not accustomed to is really dangerous. Yes it would be cool to run outdoors in NY but only if it were cooler outside! I vote for the treadmill.

Outdoors for sure girlie. 18 on the dreadmill would be pure HELL.... I didn't realize your parents lived in NY. I am sure you will have a great and speedy trip. I get to fly home to Utah next week for a few days to spend with my sisters down in STG. So excited for the break. Have a great vacay.